LAGUNA HILLS, CA (BRAIN)—The International Cycling Union (UCI) has approved the first models of frames and forks following requests submitted by their manufacturers.
The approved models belong to the following brands: Richard Sachs Cycles, Scott Sports SA, Cicli Pinarello S.p.A., Willier Triestina S.p.A., Felt Bicycles, Cannondale Bicycle Corporation and BMC Trading AG et Corima SA.
When they arrive on the market, the concerned frames and forks will feature a label certifying they are UCI approved.
The full list—regularly updated—of approved models is now available in the equipment section of the UCI website, according to a press release.
As of today, the UCI has received approval requests from 17 manufacturers—including several leaders in the bicycle market—for more than 40 models. The UCI will communicate the names of the labeled models as they are approved.
The UCI’s technology coordinator Julien Carron said, “We appreciate that manufacturers on a whole have welcomed this new approval procedure. In January a meeting was organized at the UCI headquarters to enable manufacturers to actively contribute to the structure of the procedure. The UCI now continuously receives requests for approval from manufacturers, which clearly shows that the approval procedure is well accepted.”
According to Bill Duehring, president of Felt Bicycles, “Felt is very proud to be among the first bicycle makers to receive the new UCI race-approved label. As a performance-oriented company fully committed to the competition side of cycling, we totally support this new clear and streamlined process. It takes any subjectivity out of what is UCI-legal and what isn’t, something we are 100 percent in favor of. Given the modern day complexity, lead times and costs associated with building advanced design bicycles we are quite happy to see the UCI embrace manufacturers as they have.”
Frame manufacturer Richard Sachs, specialist in the production of frames for road cycling and cyclocross, was also among the first to request approval for one of his products. “After my initial approval request, everything happened quickly. The procedure was simple and low cost. As manager and sponsor of a cyclocross team that participates in around 30 races per season, I have to say that the approval procedure for a product is as simple as that of registering for a race.”
The UCI approval procedure for frames and forks came into force on January 1, 2011. The procedure ultimately leads to the award of a label certifying that new models are in accordance with the requirements of the UCI Regulation.
Following consultation with the manufacturers, the UCI set up three distinct approval procedures: a comprehensive procedure (concerning “Monocoque” models used during road time trials and track competitions), an intermediate procedure for “ Monocoque” models used during massed start road races and cyclo-cross, as well as “Monocoque” models with backdated approval (prior to 2011) and a simplified procedure (concerning “tubular” models).
The cost of the comprehensive procedure is CHF 5,000 (Swiss Francs), that of the intermediate procedure CHF 3,000 and that of the simplified procedure CHF 500. In all three cases, this covers the approval of a maximum of eight different sizes. A modest participation (between CHF 50 and CHF 500 per frame size depending on the type of procedure) will be requested of manufacturers wishing to approve a larger number of sizes.
It is important to note that the above mentioned costs are merely cost-covering prices. The UCI will not in any way profit from the approval process. The amount charged for the various approval procedures may be adapted in the future, depending on the evolution of the project’s finances.
